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Do you have a presentation to prepare for? Does the idea of public speaking freak you out? Are you keen to improve your speaking skills? Do you want to learn how to deal with nerves associated with speaking to an audience?

Using microphones in a speech

o Test the equipment

Make sure you are familiar with the microphone itself as well as the controls for it if you have access to them (like in a UWA lecture theatre). It may be the case that a technician will control the volume of you microphone from a sound desk elsewhere in the room. Either way you should know the basics such as how to turn the microphone on and off.

Hi Everyone

Here are the details from last weeks session on planning your speech. Remember timing is extremely important!

Speech Preparation

Again well done to everyone who came this week. It is always good to see new faces. Everyone is welcome to join in, no previous experience required!

In this session we focused on using your body language. Eye contact is an ongoing theme and something to always keep in mind

Remember

Eye contact (refresh sweep, z or stay)

Posture (refresh alignment from last week)
Some don’ts
• Hands on hips – you look too condescending or parental
• Crossed arms – you are not conveying a look that says, "Let’s talk."

Here are some more aticulation exercises for you to practice

1. Around and round the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.
2. He sawed six sleek, slim, slender saplings in twain.
3. The seething sea ceaseth, and thus the seething sea sufficeth us.
4. Sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack; sheep should sleep in a shed.
5. Hang the table cloth close to the clothes and close the clothes basket.
6. A box of mixed biscuits and a biscuit mixer.
7. Did you copper bottom 'em, sir? No, I aluminumed 'em, mum.

Well done to everyone who came this week. It was good to see a few new faces again this week. Everyone is welcome to join in, no previous experience required!

In this session we really focused on using your voice. Eye contact will be a recurring theme and will also be noted next week

Remember

Eye Contact
Sweep or stay
Don’t go overboard
Z formation

Voice
Balanced alignment or stance
Deep breathing
Projection
Articulation
Vary your tone and inflection
Pause if you need to
Talk to the audience

Thanks to those who came and made a great start on our semester two UniSpeakers Club. It was great to have a mixture of the ‘beginners’ and the ‘seasoned professionals’.

This session was just a warm up where we discussed some basic speaking principles and dealing with nerves.

Don’t forget to:
Accept your nervousness
Realise other people can’t see what you feel
Breathe out
Take a moment if you need one
Know you material
Focus on the content of your talk and not the bigger fears
Engage in active problem solving
Make an audience member your friend